Wheel.



W. W. BYAM.

WHEEL,

APPLI'UATIUN FILED P5313, 912

1 1 27,729. Patented F9119, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M91965 I fizz/612M927 W. W. BYAM.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 11813, 1912 Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

5 S'HEETS- SHEET 2v iwwm W. W. BYAM.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION Pun; man 1912 Paivented. Feb. 9, 1915.

5 EHEETSSHEET 3.

-- UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

:5;- 5T1, t H To allrwhmmiamay concern Be itiknown that :I,-VVILLIAM W.BYAM, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Chicago, in'thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-.ful Improvements in WVheels, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in tirefastening devicesof the form set forth in my prior applications forUnited States Patents Serial Nos. 697,934,- .filed- December 17, 1910,636,426; filled-July 1,1911, and 653,165, filed October 17, 1911. i Inall of these applications 1.;have. described and claimed means forfasteninga resilient tire to a rigid base or rim, said means beingcharacterized by a projection" or; boss on the inner face orbasal-portion of thetire coacting with a de- 'pression sin; the rigidbase or-rim, an anchor embedded in the interior of the tire oppositesaid boss, a sten'r engaging the anchor and rigid base or rim, and meansfor drawing the anchor to'wardthe rigid base or rim to firmly, seat thetire thereon.

As set.-forth in my previous applications referredto, the fasteningmeansis equally applicable; whether the tire and rim, or

either- 0fthem are continuous or made in separate segments, and in thefollowing description and claims I, use the word tire as including, bothsegmental and continuous tires, although in the preferred embodiment ofmy invention-I make both the tire and rim in'separate. segments.

Theparticular object and nature of my inventionwill clearly appear fromthe fol lowing description and claims, taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings, in} which, I

Figure'is.a .sideview of half of a wheel to which my. .invention isapplied. Fig. 2

is ,a sectional'view of the structure shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is afragmentary cross sectional view of the outer part of a wheel showingone. of the. bolts which hold the tire and segmental. rim upon the innerpart of the wheel. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but; zi bolt whichsecures the tire to the., -rim. and acts as a dowelbetween .th flimandinner p'art of the wheel. Fig.

is a .circunitterential section in the plane ofgtliejwlieel; showing,the forms of bolts illustrated in 3, a nd 4'. Fig. 6 .is a W QfjDhQ Qfthe anchors, the

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

or .cnic ieo, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOB. TO BAM TIRE im, any: A E 'co vrrany,A. CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

anchor shown in this view being separable from the stem of the bolt andadapted to have a screw threaded engagement therewith. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of an anchor made integral with the stem of the bolt,the anchor being also provided with dowels adapted to project inwardlyfrom the tire and to engage apertures in the outer part of the wheel orfelly band. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views of rim segmentsconsisting of one, two and three units, respectively, Fig. 8 showingside flanges upon the rim segment adapted to engage the sides of thefelly band. Fig. 11 is a view showing a form of construction of integralrim sections which may be used for wide tread wheels. Fig. 12 is a.cross section' through an integral rim section comprising three units,the tire and felly being also shown. This section is on the line11-.-11- of Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a rim and tiresection comprising three units. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of part of a felly band. Figs. 15 and 16 are views of bolts orscrews used in the multiple rim sections. Fig. 17 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a tire and outer part of a wheel, showing theapplicationof my improved fastening device in connection with acontinuous rim, the tire being either continuous or, as indicated bydotted lines, segmental. In this view I also showa plurality of anchorsin the base of each segment PatentedFeb. e, 1915.

; Application filed February 13, 1912. Serial No. 677,384.

whenthe tire is segmental, and if the tire is made continuous there willbea plurality of rows of anchors extending around the circumference.Fig. 18 shcws the relation of the tire and rim before the screws orcolts are applied. Fig. 19 IS a vzewof the inner side of two rimsegments. Fig. 20 shows a circular anchor in which no prov1s1on..1s madefor securing a large extent of surface normal to the base of the tireand to the rim. Fig. 21is a central longitudinal sec ti'on through thestructure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 22 shows an anchor which. projects In the particular formillustrated in Figs 419 6, the anchor 1 is provided with a plurality ofarms 2 radiating from a central hub 3, which is provided with ascrew-threaded opening 4 adapted to be engaged by the stem of a bolt orscrew. The-anchors are molded and vulcanized into the base of the tire,the arms of the anchor preferably being first wrapped with fabric5impregnat'ed with rubber or other suitable material to insure a secureconnection between the anchors and the rubber of which the tire isformed. Preferably a layer of fabric 6 is also molded into the base ofthe tire inside of the anchors. The inside of the tire opposite theanchors preferably takes the form of a boss with inwardly convergingsides. The entire base of each segment may take the form of a singleboss having an achor embedded therein, or each segment may be prov1 dedwith a plurality ofbosses and anchors as indicated in Fig. 17. The arms'of the spider anchors are flattened or oblate in cross section and aremade of considerable depth in a. directionnormal to the periphery of thewheel in order to present large surfaces'IO. j

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be apparent that in the assembled structuretangential or side strainsupon the tire are resolved at the inner partor base of the tire into an outward radial pull tending to separate thetire from the rim. The large surfaces 10 upon the anchor arms lie in theplanes in which the forces due to tangential and side strains act, andthese forces there-fore are exerted in line with the joint between thesurfaces 10 of the arms 2 and the webbing 5 and rubber of which the tireis formed. By this arrangement the joint between the arms 2 and thematerial of the tire offers the maximum resistance to the strainsimposed upon it.

While I have illustrated and described an anchor consisting of a centralhub and radiating arms the anchors may be otherwise formed. Theradiating arms illustrated form what may be termed a grid and present alarge extent of side surface 10, but it.

will be'obvious that the members forming 1 the anchor may be so disposedas to make a grid of different form while still presenting the desiredamount of side surface substantially normal to the base of the tire.Furthermore', the anchors molded into the tire and disposed withrelation .to the rim as herein "described possess advantages independentof the precise form of the anchors.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the anchorsmay be provided with lugs or dowels11, designed in the completed and. assembled structure to projectinwardly through and beyond the material'of the tire and to be receivedin openings 12 which are formed-in the rim, as shown in Fig. 8, whenthis form of anchor is used.' The purpose of thedowels 11 when employedis to assist in securing the' anchors and tire against sidewise ortangential displacement. I have found, however, that these dowels mayordinarily be dispensed with.

The bosses at the base of the tire are preferably constructed of lessdepth than the depressions in the rim, as shown in Fig. 18, therebynecessitating the application of some force to seat the tire in theposition shown in Fig. 3. The force necessary to.

seat the tire upon the rim is applied through the medium of bolts orscrews such as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 15 and 16. The bolts 7 serveto hold the tire upon the rim, to hold the rim upon the wheel. and toact as a dowel between the anchor, rim and wheel preventing relativeside or tangential movement. The screws or bolts 8 serve to hold thetire upon the rim'and they are provided with heads 14 which engage theopenings 15 in the felly band 16 for the purpose of doweling or keyingthe tire and rim to the wheel. The screws or bolts 13 serve only to hold.the tire to the rim. The different uses, of

the bolts 7, 8 and 13 will be described below. The rim, i. 6., the rigidbase member to which the tire, whether'continuous or segmental, issecured, may either be continuous or consist of a plurality of separatesections, or segments. 'When the. rim consists of separate sections,each section may bemade of a circumferential length of 3.1416 inches orsome multiple or aliquot part thereof in order that they may beaccurately fitted to wheels whose external diameter is an inte-.

gral number of inches. In the preferred construction both the tire andrim are made in separate segments; Some or all of the rim segments,however, may comprise a plurality of units, 1'. e.,'may contain cavitiesor depressions for more than onetire segment or for moreythan one of thebosses of a longer tire section or continuous tire.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I have shown single, double and triple segments,comprising .one, two'and three units respectively and adapted to"receive one, two and three tire segments respectively. In the formshown in Fig. 8, the rim segment is provided with side flanges 40 whichin the assembled structure'embrace the sides of the felly band 41 forthe purpose of contributing to the rigidity of the connection betweenthe rim and wheel. -These side flanges may not in all cases be'necessary. In Figs. 1 and '2, I have shown the tire and rim segmentscontacting with each other, but while'the circumferential length of thesegments may be adapted to form a continuous series around wheels thediameters. of which are an integral number ofinches, it will be obviousthat my improvedtire and rim segments when constructed of any dimensionsdesirab may be mounted with interveningspaces between the tire segmentsfor the purpose of securing greater traction and also securingadditional ventilation to cool the tire.

For wheels having comparatively narrow treads, the rim segments areformed as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, those illustrated being adapted toreceive one, two and three tire segments respectively. The rim segmentsare formed with depressions 17 surrounded by inwardly converging walls18. The upper edges of the walls 18 are preferably formed with ashoulder 19 as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 18 or with a groove 42 asshown in Fig. 12, and the bosses upon the inside of the tire arepreferably so formed that a higher degree of pressure is set up betweenthese shoulders or grooves and the tire than elsewhere. The position ofthe tire before being seated in the rim is shown in Fig. 18 and itsposition after being so sea-ted is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and other views,from which it will be apparent that the forcible seating of the tire onthe rim has the effect of setting up a high degree of pressure at theedges of the depressions 17 in the rim. Each of the rim segmentsprovided at each end with projecting lugs and with overhangingshoultiers, the projection 21 at one end of each segment being oppositethe overhanging shoulder 2-2 at the opposite end of the same segment andthe overhanging shoulders 20 at the first mentioned end of the segmentbeing opposite the projections 23 at the opposite end. The projectionsand overhanging shoulders are arranged in the same relation on all ofthe segments, and in the assembled structure the projections 23 and 21lie inside of the overhanging shoulders 20 and 22 respectively. The rimsegments are provided with perforations in the base of the depressions17 to receive the bolts 7, 13 or 8 as the case may be. The bolts 7 arenecessary to secure the segmental rim to the wheel. but it is notnecessary that such bolts be user. in all oi the perforations 21 and insome cases, as, for instance, where a spoke would interfere with theuseof the bolts 7, such bolts may be omitted from part of a rim segment, orif necessary from an entire rim segment, such segments being in place bythe engagement of its 1)1O]6Ct101'1$ 21 and 23 with the adjacent boltheld segments. By constructing the rim in multiple segments containingtwo and three units, it is possibleby a proper selection of the segmentsto dispose the bolts 7- advantageously rega'rdless of the *ii'ispostionof the spokes 1n the wheel to whi h the rim is applied.

In those instances in which the bolts 7 are not used the tire may besecured to the rim by means of either the short bolts 8 or .13,

the'bolts 8 being used when it is desirable to dowel the rimto thewheel. In the case at multiple segments, such as. illustratedin Figs. 9and 10, I prefer, on account of their greater length, to construct themupon an arc of the radius of the wheel to which they are to be appliedin order to accurately preserve the circular former the outer peripheryof the tire, but the single or unit segments shown in Fig. 8 maybefiapplied to wheels of any diameterwithin the" limits ordinarily used.In orderto facilitate the application of the single rim segments' towheels of different diameters, 1' construct the ends in the form-ofnarrowfl'an ges 40, and recess the central part of the under side of thesegments as indicated at-41. -As the edges of the flanges 40 arecomparatively narrow they will fit with substantial accuracy upon wheelsof any of the diameters in ordinary use. i

With wheels having a wide tread, I'may apply my invention as illustratedin Figs. 11 to 14. In Fig. 11, I illustrate an integral rim section orsegmentcomprising six units designated by the numerals 25to 30, andintended for use in mounting three peripheral rows of tire se ments upona wheel- The segments extend in continuous rows around the wheel, butare staggeredsidewise, z. 6., the segments of the upper, middle andlower rows indicated in Fig. 10 break joints, the joints in one rowlying opposite the center of the segments in the next row. In Fig. 13, Ihave illustrated diagrammatically a rim segment comprising three unitsand designed for use in applying two or more rows of tire segments toa.wheel. The segments of multiple width, such as shown in Figs. 11, 12and 13, may be provided with depending side flanges 31 adapted to lieoutside of the felly bandasshown for the purpose of restraining the rimmembers against sidewise movement. The depending side flanges 31 may,however, be omitted. Wheels having wide treads may also be fitted withrims of the form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the segments being arrangedin a plurality of circumferential ows.

In 17 I have illustrated the application of my tire fastening deviceto acontinuous rim 45, z. 6., arim whiq ih extends completely around the"wheel as distinand in the application of a segmental tire to such a rim,as indicated in dotted lines, each segment would be provided with fourbosses and four anchors. It will be understood that my invention is notlimited to any particular form or arrangement of the anchors and bossesother than as defined in the following claims.

In Fig. 20 I show an anchor 50 of circular form and having no provisionfor a large extent of surface normal to the base of the tire. \Vhilethis form of anchor does not embody the form and disposition of thejoint between thevancho and tire material which I prefer, it possessesthe other advantages of my invention.

Fig. 22 represents a tire and rim together with an anchor havingradiating arms 51, but in this construction the anchor projects outwardbeyond the walls of the depression in the rim and beyond the webbing atthe base of the tire. For some distance outward beyond the walls of therim depressions the conditions vary but little from the conditionswithin the depressions, and in some instances the structure shown inFig. 22 may be resorted to.

I claim:

1. In combination, a rim, a resilient tire, anchors molded into theinterior of said tire and having stems engaging said rim, bossesprojecting inwardly from said tire and surrounding said stems, said rimhaving depressions surrounding said stems opposite said bosses, andmeans for drawing said anchors inwardly thereby forcing said bosses intofirm engagement with said rim, said anchors in the-assembled structurebeing surrounded by the outwardly projecting walls of said depressions.

2. In combination, a rim, a resilient tire, anchors molded into theinterior of said tire and having stems engaging said rim, bossesprojecting inwardly from said tire and surrounding said stems, said :rimhaving depressions surrounding said stems opposite said bosses, saidbosses normally not extending to the bases of said depressions, andmeans for drawing said anchors inwardly thereby forcing said bosses intofirm engagement with the bases of said depressions, said anchors in theassembled structure being surrounded by the outwardly projecting wallsof said depressions.

3. In combination, a rim having depres-- sions in its peripheralsurface, a resilient tire having bosses on its inner surface registeringwith said depressions, anchors engaging the interior of said tire andhaving stems extending inward through said bosses and engaging said rim,and means for drawing said anchors inward, said anchors in the assembledstructure lying in the rigid.

pockets formed by the walls of the depressions in said rim.

' extending 4. In combination, a rim, a tire comprising an outerresilient zone and an inner zone of webbing, said tire having bossesprojecting from its; inner surface, anchors engaging the interior ofsaid tire and having stems inward through said bosses and engaging saidrim, depressions in said rim opposite said bosses, means for drawingsaid anchors inwardly to hold the inner sur face of said tire againstsaid rim, said anchors when so drawn inward lying in the rigid pocketsformed by the walls of the depressions in said rim and the webbingforming the inner zone of said tire.

5. In combination, a rim having in its outer surface a plurality ofdepressions, each depression being surrounded by an outwardly extendingwall, a resilient tire having a plurality of projecting basal portionsnormally contacting with the upper portions of said walls and extendinginto said depressions but being normally spaced from the floors thereof,anchors embedded in said basal portions, and means engaging said anchorsand rim for drawing said basa portions into said depressions andsecuring said tire to said rim, the joint between said anchors and theresilient material of said tire being protected in the assembledstructure by the surrounding walls of said depressions.

6. In combination, a wheel rim having in its outer surface a pluralityof depressions. each depression being surrounded by an outwardlyextending wall, a resilient tire having a plurality of basal portionsseated in said depressions, anchors embedded in said basal portions, andmeans engaging said anchors and rim for securing said tire to said rim,the joint between said anchors and the resilient material of said tirebeing protected in the assembled structure by the surrounding walls ofsaid depressions.

7.. A resilient tire, a wheel anchors embedded in said tire, saidanchors lying in planes substantially parallel to the peripheral surfaceof the rim of said wheel, said anchors being formed of a plurality ofmembers separated by spaces into which the material of the tire extends,said members being relatively thin in a direction parallel to theperipheral surface of the rim and of relatively great depth in adirection normal thereto, whereby the greater part of the adjoiningsurfaces of said anchors and tire lies ,in planes substantiallyperpendicular to the by spaces into which the material of the tireextends, said members being relatively thin in a direction parallel tothe peripheral surface of the rim and of relatively great depth in adirection normal thereto, whereby the greater part of the adjoiningsurfaces of said anchors and tire lies in planes substantiallyperpendicular to the base of the tire.

'9. In a device of the class described, a rim having depressions in itsouter surface the Walls of said depressions converging toward the floorsthereof, a resilient tire having basal portions adapted to seat in saiddepressions but normally not extending to the floors thereof, anchorsembedded in the basal portions of said tire, each of said anchors havinga plurality of members separatijad by spaces into uhich the material ofthe tire extends, said anchors lying adjacent the in ner periphenv ofthe tire and having a contour upon their inwardly facing sides similarto but slightly smaller than said depressions, and means for drawingsaid anehrs inwardly thereby closely and forcibly at ing the basalportion of the tire in said depressions.

in testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WILLIAM W. BYAM. \Vitnesses HENRY A. PARKS. A. L. WALTON.

